Street sign



April 13, 1943.

H.- M. PATTERSON STREET SIGN Filed May 24, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 13, 1943.

H. M. PATTERSON STREET SIGN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1940 fnvergzor //ENRY M. Err/swam,

AZhr/zey I Patented Apr. 13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STREET SIGN Henry M. Patterson, Baltimore, Md.

Application May 24, 1940, Serial No. 337,065

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and usefuli improvements in street signs of a type adapted for mounting on a lamp post or other lamp supporting elements, and embodying a plurality of sign frames. arranged in polygonalformation and each having a translucent sign panel mounted therein behind which the lamp is positioned so that the sign may be illuminated from said lamp.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a sign structure of this character including novel means for attaching an auxiliary sign frame to each main. sign frame and having translucent sign panels in said auxiliary frames for the purpose of designating block numbers in addition to thevsigns designating the names of the streets at the intersection at which the sign is positioned.

A further important object of the present invention is toprovide novel supporting means for attaching the assembled sign frame to the lamp support and adapted for easily and quickly as-' sembling. and mounting the parts of the supporting structure in position.

An additional object, is to provide a device of' this character'of simple and practical construction, which is neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install in position and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction as more fully hereinafter described, and claimed, reference. being had to.

the accompanying drawings forming partshereof, wherein like, numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lamp post,

showing the sign mounted in position thereon,

. Figure 2 is a perspectivelview of the assembled sign frames,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the sign and illustrating the manner of attaching the auxiliary block number sign to either the upper and provided with an opening for receiving a front'of a lamp.

bolt [2 for attaching adjacent edges of the side frames to each other when the lugs of the respective frames are aligned, as shown to sadvantage in Figure 5 of the drawings.

Each of the frames are provided with a rectangular opening l3, the edge of the opening at the inner surface of the sign being rabbeted as shown at M and within which is seated; the translucent sign panel l5 so that the panel oc-. cupies a position flush with the inner surface of the frame as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The sign panel I5 is constructed of suitable translucent material having. the name It embedded in the composition forming the panel so that the name appearing on the panel will be displayed to advantage when positionedin The panels are secured in. position in the opening I3 by means of 'metal clips H which overlap the edges of the panel;

An inverted channel-shaped lug I9 is formed on the inner surface of the short end 8 of each frame, the lugs being adapted to receive one end of a supporting arm 20 which is of strap metal, the arms extending inwardly and having their inner ends attached to a split clamping ring 2| adapted for clamping in position on a lamp post 22 immediately below the lamp 23. Screws 48 may be employed for securing the outer ends of the arms 20 in the channel lugs l9.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the plurality of sign frames may be secured to each other at the end portions thereof and by reason of the beveled mitered edges of the frames, the same will have their lower edges inclined inwardly so that the Sign panels will be supported substantially in a flatwise position with respect to the lamp 23 as well as with respect to a person looking upwardly toward the sign.

The sign panels I5 are thus adapted to carry the name of a street such as indicated at l6 and a relatively small auxiliary sign frame indicated at 24 is also adapted for attaching to the upper edge of the frame 5 and a similar small auxiliary frame 25 may also be attached to the lower edge 8 of the frame, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The auxiliary frames 24 and 25 are of identical construction and accordingly a detailed explanation of one will suflice for both.

The auxiliary frames are likewise provided with an opening 26 within which is fitted a translucent sign panel 21 in the same manner as provided for the frames 6.

The auxiliary frame is adapted to edgewise engage the edge of the frame 6 and the engaged edge of the auxiliary frame is provided with a flange 28 extending from the rear surface of the auxiliary frame and adapted to abut the inner surface of the frame 6. Aligned openings 29 and 30 are formed in the frame 6 as well as in the auxiliary frame, respectively, adapted for receiv- 4 ing screws 3! to secure the auxiliary frame in position on the main frame 6.

When the auxiliary frame 25 is secured in position to the lower edge of the frame 6 the flange 28 is formed with a' notch 32' adapted to receive the channelled lug l9. 1

When the auxiliaryframe, 24 is attached in position on the upper edge of the main frame the sign panel 2'! may bear indiciadesignated at 32 to indicate the block number of a street whereas when'the auxiliary sign frame 25 is secured to the lower edge:f the main frame 6 the indicia 33 may designate a route or highway number.

As shown at. the left hand side of Figure 3 of the drawings, the auxiliary signs are supported in an inclined position in the same plane as the surface of the main signs 6.

Fig. 6 illustratesthe construction employed for securing the bottomedge of the panel in the frame and comprises a metal clip 41 secured to the lug '19 by meansof a bolt and nut 48, the inner'end of the clip having an upstanding flange 49 abutting the panel I 5. The panels possess a slight 'flexibilityandfare non-breakable to ordinary impacts and'by mounting the panels in the fra'mes'with the upper edges of the panels free, the flexibility ofthe panel will enable the same'to'yield to a 'blow,.such as'of a stone or otherlmissile strikingthe panel, to prevent damage thereto.

Figure 4 illustrates a form of sign in which two of the sign frames are connected together in a right angle position and with the free ends of theframes connected by a horizontal brace bar In constructing the frame members, the surface of the beveled mitered'ends 9 are cast with a channel 51 thereinifor the purpose of preventing abulging at the abuttingsurfaces of the ends during"castingtof thei'metal and "thus insure a flat tight fit at theicornersofthe frames.

It'isbelieved the''details of construction, ad;- va'ntages andmanner of use of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

1. A sign; comprising a sign frame havingjan opening, a semi-flexible rectangular-shaped sign panel positioned in the opening, fastening means attached to the frame adjacent opposite edges of the panel and engaging the panel for retaining the same in said opening, supporting means for the frame including an arm projecting from a supporting structure, an inverted channeled lug on the frame adjacent a third edge of the panel for receiving the outer end of the arm, a retaining clip having one end attached to the top of the lug and an upturned flange on the other end of the clip forming an abutment for the panel to secure said third edge of the panel against movement, the remaining edge of the panel being free and adapted to yield to pressure exerted against the outer surface of the panel.

2. A street sign comprising a plurality of sign frames adapted for removably receiving a sign panel in each frame, means for securing the frames together at their end edges in angular relation to each other, .a channeled lug on the inner surface at the-lower edge of each frame, the channel of the lug being'inverted, an arm having one end seated in each of'said lugs and secured thereto for supporting the lower edges of the frames on said arms, said'arms extending inwardly of the. frames, means for attaching the arms to a lamp post'beneath the lamp and means attached to the lug for retaining the sign panel in position in the frame.

3. A streets'ign comprising a plurality of sign frames adapted for removably receiving a sign panel in eachframe, means for securing the frames together at their end edges in angular relation to each other/an invertedly arranged channeled lug on the inner surface at the lower edge of each frame, an armhaving one end seated in each of said lugs and secured thereto for supporting the lower edges of the frames on said arms, said arms extending inwardly of the frames, means for attaching the arms to a lamp post beneath the lamp and an angular clip having one end secured to the upper surface of the lug and having its other end projecting upwardly behind a sign panel positioned in the frame.

4. A street sign comprising a plurality of main sign frames adapted for removably receiving a sign panel in each frame, said frames being adapted for attaching together at their end edges in angular relation to each other, an inverted channeled lug on the lower inner surface of each frame, means engaged in the channel of the lug for securing the sign to a lamp post, an auxiliary sign frame having edgewise engagement with an edge of one of said main frames and also having a sign panel removably mounted therein, a. flange on the engaged edge of said auxiliary frame adapted for overlapping the adjacent surface of the said one main frame for fiatwise engagement therewith, said flange having a notch for receiving the lug of the said one main frame, and fastening'meanssecuring the flange to said one main frame.

' HENRY'M. PATTERSON. 

